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Police play down Madeleine claims Police play down Madeleine claims
(20 minutes later)
Portuguese police have played down reports that DNA evidence with a 100% match to Madeleine McCann was found in her parents' hire car.Portuguese police have played down reports that DNA evidence with a 100% match to Madeleine McCann was found in her parents' hire car.
There have been reports an exact match of the four-year-old's DNA was found in a car used by the McCanns over three weeks after their daughter disappeared. The national director of the force handling the investigation said test results did not provide the same precision as had been reported.
Police are preparing to hand over the case file to Portuguese prosecutors. The public prosecutor is to review the files in the case after Madeleine's parents were declared formal suspects.
In his blog, Gerry McCann described the situation for the couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, as "unbearable". Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leics, said they faced an "unbearable" situation.
They have, he says, absolute confidence that when all the facts are presented they will be able to show that "we played no part in Madeleine's abduction". Madeleine was last seen in the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May.
The national director of the police force handling the investigation said in a televised debate that police had received some test results but that these do not provide such precision as has been reported. In his blog, he said he and wife Kate had absolute confidence that when all the facts were presented they would be able to show that "we played no part in Madeleine's abduction".
The case details are expected to be delivered on Tuesday and prosecutors will then decide whether to bring charges against the McCanns, who were declared formal suspects last week. The case details are expected to be delivered on Tuesday and prosecutors will then decide whether to bring charges against the McCanns, who were declared formal suspects last week, or ask for further evidence.
He also said he did not foresee any moves to impose stricter bail conditions on the McCanns.
Social servicesSocial services
Mr McCann and his wife Kate, both 39, returned home to the UK on Sunday with their two year-old twins, Sean and Amelie.Mr McCann and his wife Kate, both 39, returned home to the UK on Sunday with their two year-old twins, Sean and Amelie.
They were followed from Portugal by a large pack of journalists and photographers, many of whom are now camped outside their home in Rothley, in Leicestershire. They were followed from Portugal by a large pack of journalists and photographers, many of whom are now camped outside their home.
On Monday police and social services in Leicestershire met to discuss Madeleine's disappearance from the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May and the naming of her parents as suspects. On Monday police and social services in Leicestershire met to discuss the implications for the family of the developments in the case.
The media has swamped the village of RothleyThe media has swamped the village of Rothley
The couple now face a difficult wait to find out the outcome of those talks and to hear whether the lead prosecutor in the case, Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses, decides to charge them. Meanwhile, Portugal's lead prosecutor in the case, Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses, has asked to see police files, including details of the interviews during which Madeleine's parents were declared arguidos, or official suspects.
He has asked to see police files, including details of the interviews during which Madeleine's parents were declared arguidos, or official suspects.
No bail conditions, travel restrictions or charges have been imposed on the McCanns, who were questioned separately for more than 24 hours last week.No bail conditions, travel restrictions or charges have been imposed on the McCanns, who were questioned separately for more than 24 hours last week.
But the couple can be recalled to Portugal with five days' notice.But the couple can be recalled to Portugal with five days' notice.
Under Portuguese law they can remain suspects for up to eight months so Mr Magalhaes may decide to wait before reaching a decision.Under Portuguese law they can remain suspects for up to eight months so Mr Magalhaes may decide to wait before reaching a decision.
ARGUIDO/ARGUIDA STATUS Officially a suspectBestowed by police or requested by individualRight to remain silentRight to a lawyer Prosecutor's legal options ARGUIDO/ARGUIDA STATUS Officially a suspectBestowed by police or requested by individualRight to remain silentRight to a lawyer Prosecutor's legal options
He might also present the existing evidence to a judge who could place restrictions on the couple's movements.He might also present the existing evidence to a judge who could place restrictions on the couple's movements.
Independent criminal lawyer Dr Joao Oliveira Trindade told the BBC the prosecutor had several options.Independent criminal lawyer Dr Joao Oliveira Trindade told the BBC the prosecutor had several options.
He could recommend the investigation continue, he could choose to charge the McCanns with a crime or he could place some restrictions on their movements, Dr Trindade said.He could recommend the investigation continue, he could choose to charge the McCanns with a crime or he could place some restrictions on their movements, Dr Trindade said.
But to do the latter, Dr Trindade added, the prosecutor would have to decide on the type of crime he believed had been committed - specifically whether it was a "homicide", and if so, whether it was intentional or unintentional.But to do the latter, Dr Trindade added, the prosecutor would have to decide on the type of crime he believed had been committed - specifically whether it was a "homicide", and if so, whether it was intentional or unintentional.
The McCanns' hire car was searched by sniffer dogs from Britain in early August. The McCanns' hire car, which they acquired more than three weeks after she was last seen, was searched by sniffer dogs from Britain in early August.
Last week detectives put to Kate McCann the suggestion that her daughter's blood had been found inside the car. Last week, according to her family, detectives put to Mrs McCann the suggestion that her daughter's blood had been found inside the car.
Forensic investigator Professor David Barclay, who specialises in cold cases, said blood found in the couple's hire car could conceivably be from their twins. Forensic investigator Professor David Barclay, who specialises in cold cases, said if blood had been found in the couple's hire car it could conceivably have been from their twins.
He told BBC East Midlands Today that siblings can share as many as 15 out of 20 DNA indicators.He told BBC East Midlands Today that siblings can share as many as 15 out of 20 DNA indicators.